For teachers
Welcome to the Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) page for teachers.
LEOTC providers are contracted by the Ministry of Education to support quality teaching and learning experiences for primary and secondary students enrolled in New Zealand’s state, integrated, and registered private schools.
LEOTC programmes provide students with access to tools, objects, exhibits, artefacts, expertise, and hands-on experiences that are not available in the immediate school environment. They offer unique and stimulating learning opportunities.
The visits involve teachers and LEOTC providers working together to support student learning.
Who are the LEOTC providers?
Please view this Interactive map to find your closest LEOTC provider.
How can I use LEOTC?
These Learning Stories show some great examples of the effective use of LEOTC.
To submit your LEOTC learning stories, please use this template.
Ensuring a successful LEOTC visit
Teachers are the link between the learning on a topic that occurs in the classroom and the learning from the site visit.
Research (PDF, 187KB) shows that you and your students will get the most out of the learning experiences offered by LEOTC site visits if you:
- are clear about the learning goals for the visit
- ensure that the visit is linked to the curriculum as part of a more extensive unit, and is not a one-off activity
- work closely with the LEOTC education officer before, during, and after the site visit
- ensure that you and the education officer have the same learning goals
- link pre-visit learning activities with the site visit, and follow up with post-visit activities. Activities and discussions with students before and after a visit enrich the experience
- ensure that (in collaboration with the education officer) the programme suits the age group of the students
- encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning (for example, by working at the site in small groups with other students and with adults).
Supporting student learning
To help achieve the most from the visit:
- share the learning goals with the students – the case studies show that this helps students learn as the goals provide a focus that students can work towards
- treat the visit as a learning experience for yourself – this will help your teaching after the visit
- if possible, visit the site or exhibition before you take the class. If this is not possible, make sure you work closely with the education officer before the visit so you are as familiar as possible with the programme
- ensure that you brief adult helpers on the visit and give them clear instructions on how they help the students get the most educationally from the visit.
Student views
New Zealand case studies show students can find LEOTC visits interesting and motivating. Their interactions with exhibits can provide rich learning experiences that add realism to the skills and ideas they are trying to grasp.
Students are more likely to learn when relevant concepts are highlighted in both the school and the LEOTC site.
Students in these case studies:
- showed high levels of curiosity and interest
- often took responsibility for their own learning
- liked working in small groups
- were able to describe what they had learned
- demonstrated learning by using new vocabulary and showing an understanding of new concepts and ideas
- liked pre-visit activities because this helped them understand the purpose of the visit
- learned from education officers who were enthusiastic.